Jackson Free Press

Clarion-Ledger reporters Arnold Lindsay, Heather Civil and Kathleen Baydala today characterized the appointment yesterday of Sheriff McMillin as police chief this way:

Huh? How can crawling on your belly to the sheriff who has arrested you asking him to bail you out of a crisis you created possibly framed by our daily corporate newspaper as a "public relations coup"!?!

And according to that paper's so-called standards, doesn't such a characterization belong on the editorial page? One does wonder if such a silly phrase could have been inserted at the vaunted metro desk—the one that has kowtowed to its friend Melton for years now. Regardless, it's remarkable to watch The Clarion-Ledger try to spin this as some sort of victory for Melton. In so doing, they are playing right into his hands. It's wacky and wondrous to watch such a poor level of journalism unfold. And it takes three people to go to a press conference and write a story about it!?!

Read the entire piece.

Previous Comments

ID

115796

Comment

There does seem to be a giddiness I don't quite get from all this. insert crude 'Wolf' quote from Pulp Fiction here

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-11-17T11:57:49-06:00

ID

115797

Comment

Well, if there is anything Jackson likes, it's an easy fix. Or the perception of one. Especially our corporate media outlets.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-11-17T12:03:19-06:00

ID

115798

Comment

Yeah, a quick fix indeed. But, what would you expect from a frat boy culture that works from an ideology centered somewhere between Pres. Reagan and Gov. Barnett.

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-11-17T12:25:43-06:00

ID

115799

Comment

And, I'm not against this appointment. It really may work out in the long run. If this puts the County on it's heels, and gets Jackson back its fair shake in the County then good! Doug Anderson was quick to comment that it may not be possible. If this was done to protect grant money, and save us from other pitfalls then that is good. That's a quick fix I can understand a little bit. But, I will keep my eyebrows raised as this progresses.

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-11-17T12:31:34-06:00

ID

115800

Comment

Lady Ladd, So exactly what is your (either Ladd or JFP) solution to the problem of Frank Melton? You reported that he can't be legally impeached or recalled. It is obvious that he can't be shamed out of office by the truth reporting the JFP is so good at. You don't advocate using the courts like Hattiesburg did. Your paper doesn't consistently report on the actions of the grassroots organizations working to improve the city (i.e.:Wake-Up Jackson, ACORN, SafeCity, Parents For Public Schools, Buy Jackson, etc). You know reporting on those groups could be a column on to itself. In fact, if these groups knew you had an interest in reporting on their activities that might shift their energies into a higher gear. I see a lot of criticism and critique of the all of the current elected officials and of the reporting of all of the Jackson media (shades of "The Bottom Line"), but no editorial or journalistic energy directed towards solutions. Again this is just my casual observation. So in summary, exactly what is the function and responsibility of a media outlet, (JFP), an outspoken editor of that same outlet (Ladd) to improve a community (Jackson)? I asked several editors of the Clarion Ledger this same question and I received a surprising answer (I so gullible and ignorant)

Author

FrankMickens

Date

2007-11-17T13:01:40-06:00

ID

115801

Comment

Based on the watercooler talk at my job yesterday regarding the Mayor's nomination, there may be a renewed sense that Jackson could be headed in the right direction in terms of getting a handle on the crime problem and the chaos at JPD.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2007-11-17T13:47:24-06:00

ID

115802

Comment

Observer, it is an objective reality that the only way to remove Melton from office is a felony conviction. We've tried to do our part to get the information out there that is needed to help agencies investigate his questionable activities. We cannot pay the jury (or the judge) off on the city's behalf, nor would we try. Our job is to report news and information. As for your assertion about the "grassroots" groups we don't cover, I simply disagree based on simple fact. We've often covered, and given space, for all of the groups you have mentioned, which is easily accessed with a search of our site. Any member of those groups can start their own forum threads about their activities on the site, but few do. We do not offer column space to any particular groups or businesses to promote their own agenda or business—we don't have space, and it's not something that newspapers tend to do in print. But the Web site does offer a venue, so please pass the word that they can start forum threads on whatever they want. With the unlimited space of the Web, that is possible to do. We also will list their event listings when they send them enough in advance that we can get them in the paper. As for your last question, the answer depends on the publication. Many papers and editors would tell you that it's not their role to improve the community. But our mission has been just that, and we have put mammoth energy into doing that community improvement—from training young journalists and artists, sponsoring and planning events and forums of all sorts, donating many thousands of dollars in advertising to nonprofits, volunteering for organizations, writing columns and editorials suggesting all sorts of solutions, as well as warning people about electing people like Frank Melton—and, most importantly, giving people the information that other media wouldn't. And reporting on the positives going on in our community as well as the negative, especially about marginalized communities. We cannot go out and vote for people, and we cannot change the law (singlehandedly anyway) now that Melton is in there. We tried to tell people, and with solid reporting backing us up, and people wouldn't listen. Now, we all must move forward together. The bottom line, Observer, is that is not up to the JFP to solve the community's problems. We do everything we can to help make that happen, but too many of our residents are too busy looking for a super hero (or super newspaper?) to save them when they need to be out there rolling up their sleeves and looking at the whole picture. McMillin may be exciting to people, but I hate to tell them that he is not going make a huge dent crime without more with residents' efforts and more tax dollars to pay for what is needed. There is no free lunch. And no super hero. It takes us all, doing our part. Ours is good journalism.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-11-17T16:42:33-06:00

ID

115803

Comment

Observer, if it will help, here's an article that the JFP did this summer on Wake Up Jackson.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-11-17T16:59:26-06:00

ID

115804

Comment

Ladd, Great answer. One clarification, I didn't assume that the grass-roots groups would write their own JFP articles. I was referring to JFP doing for these action oriented organizations what you did for with for "rap" and "hip-hop" with that "rap" guy Kamakazie; i.e one of your staff writers working and reporting on the "grassroots organization beat". Many years ago the non-defunct Jackson Public Schools "Community Council" asked the CL to initiate an "education" page or at least assign a writer to concentrate on education issues. Well the CL said they couldn't afford to do this due to advertising page allotments, etc. Well just a few years later they did just that..so it was possible. All that was needed was a "champion" on the paper..in the form of a new publisher as it turned out. A publisher who was in the inaugural class of Leadership Jackson. I believe his name was Don Johnson I'll pass the word about the availablilty of the threads. It is a great resource and opportunity to publicize projects and get feedback. By the way, the CL's reponse to that final question was that its one and only job and responsibility to the community was to report the truth...period. I asked them how they spelled "truth". I have yet to get a reply I guess sarcasm will be the death of me.

Author

FrankMickens

Date

2007-11-17T17:53:23-06:00

ID

115805

Comment

I don't think for one minute that Frank Melton made a lone decision to appoint Sheriff McMillin as Chief of Police. I believe there is money coming to Jackson and Frank's antics were jepordizing it. 1.) Several white business men developer types, including Leland Speed, have been on TV extolling the virtues of the city of Jackson. A big about face! 2.) Frank bald faced lied in the press conference saying that he and the Sheriff had been busom buddies for the past 25 years visiting in each other's homes. 3.) His wide faced grin in front of the cameras turned into a somber scowl as he walked away from the mike. 4.) He seemed compelled to explain that he was working with Ben Allen and that he had sought the approval of Haley Barbour for this decision. 5.) He had tried hurriedly to find an alternative Chief to whom he was unwilling to give autonomy but was willing to sign an MOU with the Chief Sheriff that he would stay out of his business. That seems a hard pill to swallow for a meglomaniac. 6.) The Sheriff HAD PUT HIM IN JAIL and publicly announced that he would humiliate him by putting him in prison garb with no mints on the pillow!! 7.) Melton is vindictive to say the least and has been willing to fire, banish or otherwise treat others much worse for less offense. It is inconceivable that he would so quickly forgive the Sheriff and proclaim him his best friend! But then, we know that a lie is a very small accomplishment for Melton who serves them up with abandon. All told, it is hard to believe that Melton would choose, approach, offer and succomb to the demands of the Sheriff who has never bitten his tongue in telling us all just what he thinks about Melton and his antics. I'm waiting to see when the Chief Sheriff will raid the Mayor's home and deliver the little criminals that the Mayor is harboring and mentoring. When will he take the keys to the crime mobile and park it so that it is accessible to the men and women who are truly fighting crime in the streets? When will we find out who the real power brokers are who engineered this move? What's next? We will be watching.

Author

CatO9tails

Date

2007-11-18T02:17:11-06:00

ID

115806

Comment

Cat, We are thinking along parallel lines. The way I see it is: Queen Check!

Author

ChrisCavanaugh

Date

2007-11-18T06:32:18-06:00

ID

115807

Comment

Has any begun to look for a good Mayoral candidate for the next elections? It's never too early to get it right.

Author

daniel johnson

Date

2007-11-18T07:00:54-06:00

ID

115808

Comment

CAtO0tails, I agree with some of what you are saying. It was slimy of him to appoint Jones, and then piss away another $200,000 of our money. You are right, some white men are going to make some money developing some of downtown. But, you are casting aside the man who is doing Capital Green, one of the largest of all the projects, a black man who graduated from Lanier or Provine. So, lets try to come to an agreement that all people should be able to make a buck without Mayor Melton getting in the way like he has with Deuce (KEH) and some others. I would venture to guess the lady from Detroit who just bought Mardi Gras for over $1 million is a minority - if not by color then by gender. If you are going to complain about favoritism, complain about how the Speeds got a fat tax break by not having to pay service fees to the City while the rest of the developers do! But, if you think someone like Ben Allen or Speed are going to get on TV and complain about Jackson, you are wrong. That is not in their public DNA. Privately, I have no idea. And, I've been a big critic of many of their moves. But, that doesn't mean I can hide the facts or ignore what they are doing that is good for the City. And, Hey... Maybe this is all the movement before the Feds take Melton away.

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-11-18T10:32:25-06:00

ID

115809

Comment

Absolutely pike. Sheriff McMillin is the CLEO if Jackson falls apart. By law, he can come in and take over regardless of this appointment. Things are getting ready to happen, and little frankie doesn't even know it.

Author

Cliff Cargill

Date

2007-11-18T11:20:50-06:00

ID

115810

Comment

What was it Donna said after the trial in March? "It ain't over til it's over." Help me out Donna, was that correct?

Author

Cliff Cargill

Date

2007-11-18T11:22:55-06:00

ID

115811

Comment

Yes, that is correct, Cliff. And it ain't over.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-11-18T11:39:15-06:00

ID

115812

Comment

One clarification, I didn't assume that the grass-roots groups would write their own JFP articles. I was referring to JFP doing for these action oriented organizations what you did for with for "rap" and "hip-hop" with that "rap" guy Kamakazie; i.e one of your staff writers working and reporting on the "grassroots organization beat". Oh, I see. Actually, I have exactly one staff writer—reporter Adam Lynch. And he has such a full plate between the state, city and county that he couldn't possibly write such a column each week. As it is, we regularly divide up stories about what our local organizations are doing between editors, freelancers and interns, and I'd guess that we have actually published more than 52 Talks, Jacksonians, features and other pieces about their efforts in the course of a year. So I suspect our piecemeal/integrated approach is just as effective as the weekly column idea. And I'm a believer in incorporating important topics/efforts into as many different sections of the paper as possible. Kamikaze doesn't write a rap column; he's a columnist and writes about anything he wants, as do our other columnists. But I do appreciate your suggestion of such a column. Maybe as our resources, staff and resources grow, we'll be able to shape something akin to that in the future. I've long wanted to do what I call the "Be the change" page, which would always have one main feature on some change-the-world effort along with listings of ways people can get involved. I just haven't had the resources to make it happen. However, we do have a Jackpedia section devoted to such volunteer type efforts, and would encourage people to really use that page to add new information. We're offering the forums, but we do need the public's help to get the information out. Jackpedia: Getting Involved and Volunteering Community and Organizations Elections Voting Business and Economic Development Flyer Locations In other words, we're building the infrastructure. It's up to people to use it, instead of complain about us, or whomever, not doing enough. Thanks much for your input.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-11-18T11:52:10-06:00

ID

115813

Comment

Pikersam says "You are right, some white men are going to make some money developing some of downtown. But, you are casting aside the man who is doing Capital Green, one of the largest of all the projects, a black man who graduated from Lanier or Provine. So, lets try to come to an agreement that all people should be able to make a buck without Mayor Melton getting in the way like he has with Deuce (KEH) and some others." and "If you are going to complain about favoritism" Please don't put words in my mouth. I never said any of that. My reference to white men was of the anomaly of having them on TV extolling the virtues of the City of Jackson. I don't recall saying anything about favoritism. I made reference to power brokers; and, for the records, I don't think any of the power brokers are African American.

Author

CatO9tails

Date

2007-11-18T12:08:38-06:00

ID

115814

Comment

.."I was referring to JFP doing for these action oriented organizations what you did for with for "rap" and "hip-hop" with that "rap" guy Kamakazie; i.e one of your staff writers working and reporting on the "grassroots organization beat". "... My first response is to always get offended when someone rolls out the "that rap guy" term. It keeps me on my toes. Don't even make it SOUND like you're disrespecting what I do. Secondly, my name is on this site SEVERAL times so PLEASE spell it correctly if you're gonna type it. NOW....that's out of the way. to comment on your post. My column is not just devoted to hiphop. In fact thats the reason why Im writing for JFP anyway. the higher ups at the CL felt like rappers didnt have the intelligence to talk about anything other than music or "whats hot in the clubs". when they told me they wanted me to concentrate on just that...I walked. Not gonna do any cooning. but I can say that many organizations including mine(MAP Coalition/hiphop congress) acorn, aclu,naacp, 100 Black men have all worked together to make our city better. And If there is an entity that you feel needs to be highlighted Id be glad to talk about it in my column if you have any suggestions [email][email protected][/email]

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2007-11-18T17:45:20-06:00

ID

115815

Comment

Hey KMZ, Hey man, I'm sorry i offended you. And I am equally sorry that you are so easily offended. I respectfully reserve the right to mis-spell words and names because I am not being graded and I already have my degree. But hey man..this is the internet, not English 101. We bloggers are not paid journalists (like yourself..at least I hope Ladd paid you for your fine work!) ..just peop[le (typo) trying to communicate. Also, please try to concentrate on the substance of the postings in this blog and not the superflourous (spelling, punctuation, syntax, subject verb agreement etc.) ..please..so we can all get along better and get something positive done.! Anyway, I did not call you that rap guy because I was trying to offend you. I just called you what you often call yourself in your columns and as you characterized yoiurself (sp-my bad..so sorry) in your response to my comment, i.e. "the higher ups at the CL felt like rappers didn't have the intelligence, etc." Your words not mine. Also, if you review your articles you charactrize yourself as a "rapper" many, many, many times. Take the time you commented on your escapades in Europe and your reports of how you participate in local spoken word jams. Did I read all of that wrong? All that aside, you chose to take my suggestioin to the JFP to duplicate what they did with your column, that "included" news of the "rap and hip-hop" community, as a negative. I guess that chip on your shoulder (your words not mine = " MY FIRST RESPONSE IS TO ALWAYS GET OFFENDED = chip on shoulder; in my opinion) made it difficult for you to give me the benefit of the doubt and chalk my comment up as a compliment on your efforts to give a voice to a neglected part of the Jackson and national community. So to remove all doubt..I WAS TRYING TO GIVE YOU A COMPLIMENT! Please excuse my obviously inadequete english skills. I guess my mis=spelling (sp) of your name didn't help your state of mind. But hey man..this is the internet, not English 101. As for your recommendation that I write you and make a suggestions about groups that need to be highlighted...that was the whole point of my post...it was a suggestion and I provided a list. In fact, you gave me back the same list. That's all I can do. You guys are the reporters..you ask them! Of course, only if you think its worth the effort, and only if it is a high enough priority ...for you. Peace and keep up the good work that you are doing..

Author

FrankMickens

Date

2007-11-18T21:25:57-06:00

ID

115816

Comment

Donna, Again, thank you for your responses, not only to my posts, but for your respectful and thought out responses to all of us her in blogsville. Your professionalism, work ethic and commitment exudes from your writting, your community work and your publication. The "piece meal" character of your community reporting is understandable, and I acknowledge and repect what you are doing. I'm just tring to coax and cajole you up to the next level. See, you've spoiled us all..we expect only the very best from the JFP. Thanks again for what you are doing. PS: Point of clarification What's the difference between an editor, a staff writer, a columnist, a free lance and an intern? Are they all paid? Where do you find them? Just a general question.

Author

FrankMickens

Date

2007-11-18T21:33:59-06:00

ID

115817

Comment

Well, I don't want to completely hijack this thread to talk about the JFP, which is where it seems to be going. You can go to our Jackpedia page to find a JFP FAQ (which we haven't updated in a while; need to.) I'll quickly answer your question, though, about people who work here: An editor edits copy, assigns content, conceives and helps writers shape story ideas, and tracks the paper through production. We all also write as much as we can. A staff writer only reports and writes. A columnist is not a staffer for the paper, but someone who gets a regular column space in which to say pretty much what they want (as long as it's factcheckable, not too offensive, etc.), a freelancer writes occasional stories on contract, and an intern is here to train in the business and build their portfolios. All of our positions and freelancers are paid, except for some internships that are done in exchange for training/free classes, college credit and such. In the beginning, many people volunteered in order to have the JFP in the community, including all the principals who started the paper. Now, we have some writers donate work to the paper (like the writer from Harper's) because, frankly, we don't pay enough yet to matter to them, and they like the quality of journalism that we're doing. We don't pay a lot, but we will pay more as we can because we believe in giving back. We find people in all kinds of ways—most come to us because they like the paper and want to be involved. Some answer ads; others are sent by professors, and many-many of them (starting high school age) by their parents who want them to be mentored in this environment. Still others come to Mississippi for a few months at a time from other places to train with us because they want to "boot camp" in a place with our level of journalism. We've gotten several diversity grants from AAN to do paid internships for local aspiring journalists of color, and I like to bring young journalists in from other places (like the Academy of Alternative Journalism in Chicago where I teach during the summer) to intern here, get a different view of Mississippi, and help our young people expand their networks through getting to know them. OK, let's return to the regularly scheduled programming here.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-11-19T10:07:10-06:00

ID

115818

Comment

Also, I didn't characterize our "community reporting" as "piecemeal." I'm talking about what essentially would be advocacy pieces for community groups—we don't have a regular column space for that as you suggested. Instead, we cover them in various ways, and often really reported, rather than just give a column to a different group each week. From a journalism perspective, it is an important distinction. Finally, I welcome good ideas, but I really don't need "cajoling." We have several years worth of projects that we want to do for the community that we don't have the resources to do ... yet. Thanks for the kind words, though, and let's all get back to work. The navel-gazing takes valuable timee away from other community work. ;-)

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-11-19T10:08:51-06:00